When President Akufo-Addo appointed Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, as the Minister of Energy in 2021, it raised suspicions among keen observers of Ghanaian politics.
The appointment of Dr. Prempeh, affectionately known as Napo, to the coveted position hinted at President Akufo-Addo’s strategic move to capitalize on financial gains.
By entrusting Napo with the Energy Ministry, often seen as a hub of corruption in political circles, President Akufo-Addo was setting the stage for potential monetary exploitation.
Speculations arose that this appointment might also serve as a precursor to Napo being earmarked as the running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the upcoming political campaign of 2024, with Napo amassing funds to support the NPP’s cause.
Shortly after resigning from his ministerial position to focus on his role as Dr. Bawumia’s running mate, troubling revelations about Napo’s activities during his tenure as Energy Minister began to surface.
The New Republic has obtained a collection of documents shedding light on Napo’s questionable dealings while in office, notably a scheme where he sought to allocate a staggering $36 million to relocate the AMERI power plant from Aboadze in the Western Region to the Ashanti Region.
Despite his efforts to bypass the Attorney General and other cabinet members, civil society organizations vehemently opposed this dubious transaction, eventually leading to its cancellation.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the legitimate cost of the relocation amounted to less than $5 million, a stark contrast to the inflated figure Napo attempted to secure. Had his unethical proposal succeeded, Napo would have pocketed an exorbitant $31 million.
The power crisis that plagued Ghana during the previous Mahama administration prompted the procurement of additional power sources, including a 250MW power plant agreement with Africa and Middle East Resources Investment (AMERI) in 2015.
Following the NPP’s electoral victory in 2016, the government, contrary to their pre-election promises, opted to extend the AMERI contract rather than renegotiate it as initially pledged.
In 2021, plans to relocate the power plant triggered Napo’s questionable financial maneuvers, despite objections from the Energy sector Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).
In a controversial move, Napo favored an inflated proposal of $36 million from the Greek firm Mytilneos S.A. for the relocation, over a more reasonable bid of $25.48 million, dismissing concerns raised by CSOs regarding the excessive cost.
Attempts to obtain transparency on the negotiation process were thwarted, with Napo and the Energy Ministry evading disclosure requests, including those submitted under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
It later emerged that Napo had proceeded with the negotiation without consulting the Attorney General, despite contrary claims by the Energy Ministry.
In the face of mounting opposition, including dissent from members of Parliament, the VRA eventually undertook the relocation for a fraction of Napo’s proposed cost, underlining the excessive and unnecessary expenditure that was narrowly averted.
Napo’s dubious dealings exemplify the perils of unchecked corruption and the imperative need for accountability within the corridors of power.